From the days of oars and coal-fired engines to the computerized era of the 21st century, The Bluejacket's Manual has been an essential part of the American sailor's sea bag since 1902, serving as an introduction to the Navy for new recruits and as a reference book for sailors of all ranks. Written by a sailor whose decades of naval service included sea duty in patrol craft, destroyers, and aircraft carriers, as both an officer and a white hat, this centennial edition reflects the state of the ever-evolving U.S. Navy in 2002.